The Purpose of the Sport Sessions
Sport is a passion for Fiji, it is a love that runs deep across the whole country. Because of this, sport is used as a tool to promote health and wellness for rural communities by many of our partner organisations. Fiji is facing a national health crises, with the highest rates of NCDs in the world, caused by changing diet and lack of activity for specific groups, particularly women, children and the elderly. These projects are a fantastic opportunity to, at a community level, boost energy with outside participation and begin developing the confidence and knowledge of the next layer of community leaders, the youth. The sport sessions on the project are fun and engaging, but there is more to them than just playing the game! Think of a sports camp… now place that in a Fijian village… that’s what this project is. See below to understand more.
The Purpose
An outreach programme for rural communities, each morning you will collaborate with members of a Fijian youth group (aged 18-35 year olds) to develop technique and skills of your favourite sports at grass roots level. In small groups, mixed international participants and community members, a variety of sports will be delivered at your discretion to not only focus on improving technique, knowledge of developing an effective structured session and the dedicated planning and intention behind one, it promotes physical activity in a fun way, supporting the aims of our partners in rural communities. The sessions are a fantastic opportunity to facilitate an opportunity that is unique and exciting, allowing for the personal development of all involved. No one needs to be an expert… positive participation is all we ask for to ensure tangible outcomes for all involved.
The initiative also comes with the overriding purpose of encouraging soft skills and attributes of leadership amongst young people in rural areas of Fiji where future change is made real in the next generation.
Funding from your participation also not only funds the initiative itself but contributes to year-round support the Think Pacific Foundation provides to our local partners and the community you visit.
Intended Learning Outcomes
For You
- Developing inter-cultural competence and ability to successfully communicate within a foreign cultural environment.
- Leadership skills development: opportunities to lead groups of young people in a sport environment
- Tolerance: while working in teams, learn to listen more attentively, to respect each other’s opinion, team-work and team-spirit.
- Personal Skills: personability and set-up of sessions allows you to grow in confidence and communication.
- Sporting skill development: Bottom line, you’ll be playing a lot of sports with some passionate and talented people!
- Appreciation of diversity: appreciation of the opinions and values of others, sensitivity to cultural diversity, and becoming more aware of your own context.
- Broader Perspective: Reconsider the cultural framework you have been brought up in and acquire skills that will enable you to observe and analyse encounters with diversity and to extend these beyond the framework of your own culture.
- Critical thinking.
- Soft skills: Presentation skills, time management, resilience, communication.
For Community Youth Members
- Developing skills applicable to a variety of sports
- Leadership skills development: opportunities to lead groups of young people in a sport environment
- The ability to communicate healthy habits and deliver sports sessions at a community level
- Exposure to sports that are not common in Fiji
- To encourage personal growth in the form of a boost in confidence, communication skills, team working, leadership, time management and presentation skills.
- Financial support for those involved and the youth group of the community.
- Any outstanding individuals can be highlighted for scholarship / employment opportunities.
- Appreciation of diversity: appreciation of the opinions and values of others, sensitivity to cultural diversity, and becoming more aware of their culture.
- Broader Perspective: Reconsider the cultural framework they have been brought up in and to acquire skills that will enable them to observe and analyse encounters with diversity and to extend these beyond the framework of their culture.
- Critical thinking.